Gun accessory mounting device

ABSTRACT

Mounting device for an accessory ( 11 ), such as a lamp ( 27 ) for guns. Said accessory ( 11 ) is connected to an adapter ( 10 ) which is provided with a gripping means ( 17; 22 ). Said gripping means ( 17, 22 ) comprises a spring biased clamping mechanism ( 15; 18; 20; 22; 24 ) and a counter stay ( 17 ) cooperating with said clamping mechanism.

FIELD OF PRESENT INVENTION

The invention relates to a gun accessory mounting device. The termaccessory stands mainly for components and devices that will notinfluence directly on the function of the gun.

PRIOR ART

Many guns allow use together with different accessories. In somecircumstances it is desirable to mount the accessory on the gun. Thismay for instance be a spare magazine, extra sights or other similaraccessories. When mounting sights on a gun often an adapter is mountedstationary on the gun in advance, so as to allow the sight to be mountedin an exact position to achieve the desired precision. The mounting ofthe sight can also be carried out fast and simple.

A drawback with stationary mounted adapters is that they take up spaceand may influence on the handling of the gun and other functions of thegun. When used on for instance hand guns that are carried in a holsterthe adaptation of the holster to the gun may render such adaptersimpossible.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to avoid the above describedproblems and to provide a mounting device adapted to a certainaccessory, where the mounting device does not influence the function ofthe gun when the accessory is not used. This object is achieved byproviding the accessory with an adapter. The adapter in turn is providedwith a gripping means that may comprise a spring biased clampingmechanism and a counter stay cooperating with the clamping mechanism.The adapter can be mounted on the gun without any modification or extraequipment required of the gun.

The counter stay can be adapted to a trigger guard of the gun, so as toengage an interior end section of the trigger guard connecting to thebarrel of the gun. When using the adapter in accordance with theinvention the counter stay is disposed interior in the trigger guard anda clamping arm is tensioned. When tensioning the clamping arm a springbiased pressure plate is pressed against the exterior of said section ofthe trigger guard. The clamping arm moves to a locked position and holdsin this position the accessory firmly in line with the gun. Theaccessory can comprise a lamp, which in this position will have the samedirection as the barrel of the gun. In this application the clamping armpreferably is firmly or rigidly connected to the lamp to make a rotationof the lamp directly providing the required rotation of the clampingarm.

In one embodiment the accessory comprises an elongated lamp which isrigidly connected to the adapter. The adapter comprises a pivotable rod,which in a first end is pivotably connected to a clamping arm and in asecond end is pivotaly connected to a lever. When turning the clampingarm the rod will achieve a displacement of the lever and a spring setconnected to the lever towards the pressure plate.

When turning the clamping arm the rod will move in a stroke past a deadcenter, in which there is a maximum spring biasing, to a restingposition, in which the rod is locked to prevent a returning movement. Inone embodiment a rounded-out end of the rod runs against a pin extendingperpendicular to the clamping arm. In the locked position the rod ispressed against the pin by a spring. When the rod is released theclamping arm has to move the rod against the force of the spring pastthe pin.

In one embodiment the adapter is provided with a locking device lockingthe adapter against an unintentional release. Only after manuallyreleasing the locking device the clamping arm can be released so as torelease the pressure from the pressure plate and to allow the removal ofthe accessory. In an embodiment comprising a lamp or other electricalequipment the adapter can be provided with a switch for turning theequipment on and off. The pressure plate and the counter stay togetherform a gripping means which can be snapped on a section of the gun andbe locked in that position.

The switch can comprise a magnetic element and a switching elementcontrolled by said magnetic element. The switching element will closeand open a circuit in dependence of the relative position between themagnetic element and the switching element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by different embodiments withreference to the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevational view of a section of a gun and anembodiment of a mounting device with an adapter in accordance with theinvention mounted on an accessory,

FIG. 2 is a schematic detailed view of the adapter and a section of thegun in FIG. 1 with the adapter in a mounting position,

FIG. 3. is a schematic detailed view of the adapter and a section of thegun in FIG. 1 with the adapter set into a locking position.

FIG. 4 is a schematic detailed view of the adapter and a section of thegun in FIG. 1 with the adapter set into a locked position,

FIG. 5 is a schematic side elevational view of a section of a gun withan adapter and an accessory mounted thereon,

FIG. 6 is a schematic side elevational view of the gun with the adapter,accessory and a support for the adapter,

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the support in FIG. 6,

FIG. 8 is a schematic side elevational view of a switch comprised in theadapter in FIG. 5 in a resting position and

FIG. 9 is a schematic side elevational view of the switch in FIG. 8 inan end position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the embodiment of an adapter in accordance with the invention asshown in FIG. 1 the adapter is rigidly connected to an accessory 11 inthe form of a lamp. The accessory in this embodiment is intended to bemounted on a trigger guard 12 of a gun 13, the gun being shown onlypartly in FIG. 1. Other types of accessories, such as sights andcommunication devices can within the scope of the invention be mountedcorrespondingly on other sections of the gun, such as the barrel oranother stationary part of the gun.

The adapter 10 comprises a base plate 14 and a clamping arm pivotallymounted in relation to the base plate 14. In the embodiment of theadapter shown in FIG. 1 the clamping arm is connected to a rear sectionof the lamp 11. The rear section of the lamp normally comprises a capfor battery and a switch. In the embodiment shown the cap is replaced bya cap 16 associated to the adapter, the cap 16 forming a part of theclamping of arm 15. By connecting the cap 16 to the lamp 11 a rigidconnection is provided between the clamping arm and the lamp. Thus, apivoting movement of the lamp will provide a corresponding pivotingmovement of the clamping arm.

The base plate 14 is in a first end pivotally connected to the clampingarm and in an opposite end provided with a counter stay 17 formed as arail extending perpendicular from the base plate 14. The rail comprisesa shackle handle 31 and is adapted for engaging an inside of a frontsection of the trigger guard 12. Preferably the rail is also somewhatcurved so as to partly enclose the trigger guard.

On the base plate 14 there is provided also a lever 18, which in a firstend is pivoted around a cylindrical first pin 19 and in an oppositesecond end supports a spring set 20 on a bar 21 that is threaded in oneend. In the embodiment shown the spring set 20 comprises a plurality ofcircular cup springs. The bar 21 extends substantially perpendicularfrom the lever and extends through a pressure plate 22 pivoted aroundsaid first pin 19. The components provided on the base plate comprisetogether with the clamping arm and the rod 24 a clamping mechanism. Thepressure plate 22 can be curved similar to the counter stay 17 so as toenclose at least partially the trigger guard. As a result forces arisingon the trigger guard are distributed better over a bigger part of thetrigger guard and rotation and displacement of the adapter is prevented.

A threaded section of the bar 21 is received in a correspondinglythreaded through hole of the pressure plate 22. A groove 23 in the endof the bar 21 allows an adjustment of the spring force of the spring set20. By turning the clamping arm 15 the rod can turn the lever againstthe pressure plate 22. During this movement of the rod the spring set ispressed against the pressure plate 22 which in turn is pressed in thedirection of the counter stay 17.

The movement of the lever 18 can be achieved as a result of beingarticulately connected to a first end of a rod 24. A second end of therod is pivotally connected to the clamping arm 15. When the clamping arm15 is pivoted the rod 24 will perform an essentially linear movement inthe direction of the pressure plate 22. This function is furtherdescribed with reference to FIGS. 2-4. In use the base plate is disposedbehind the trigger guard whereas the trigger guard is received in anempty space between the counter stay 17 and the pressure plate 22. Thenthe lamp is pivoted upwards in the direction of an arrow A. The rotationof the lamp will result in a corresponding rotation of the clamping arm15. The clamping arm 15 is pivoted around a second cylindrical pin 25.

Different types of accessories can be used in accordance with theinvention. Furthermore, the accessory can be mounted on other sectionsof the gun than the trigger guard. For guns of the type shown in FIG. 1the adapter can be designed to be mounted on a stationary section belowthe barrel of the gun. The gripping means extends over the section ofthe gun and is mounted by moving opposite parts of the gripping means inthe direction towards each other and is locked by a spring biasingfunction.

FIG. 2 to FIG. 4, along with FIG. 1, show an example of the function ofthe rod 24 and the lever 18. In FIG. 2 the clamping mechanism isreleased and the adapter can be disposed with a trigger guard 12received between the counter stay 17 and the pressure plate 22. Thedistance between the pressure plate 22 and the counter stay 17 can beadjusted by means of a screw driver or similar tool, set in the groove23 and then rotated. When rotating the bar 21 the pressure plate will bedisplaced either against or from the counter stay. The adjustment shouldbe done in such a way that the adapter easily can be located in thecorrect position but also in a way to make the pressure plate engagingthe trigger guard after only a short rotating movement of the clampingarm 15. In this position the spring set 20 does not act on the pressureplate.

The rod 24 is pivoted in both ends. In a first end the rod 24 is pivotedcentrally in the lever 18 and in the second end the rod 24 is pivoted ina third cylindrical pin 26. When rotating the clamping arm 15 the rod 24will move along the curve B in FIG. 2. During this movement the rod willalso perform an essentially linear movement to the right in FIG. 2,which is indicated at the arrow C, also carrying the lever 18. Themovement in the direction of the arrow C is governed by a horizontalgroove in the base plate. The first cylindrical pin 19 is not fixed inthe base plate 14 but can be moved to some extent. The flexibility isrequired to allow the pressure plate 22 to adapt to Inclination andposition of the section of the trigger guard which the pressure platewill engage.

In the position shown in FIG. 3 the clamping arm 15 has been rotated inthe direction of the arrow A and thus also rotated rod 24. At the sametime the end of the rod that is pivoted in the lever has been moved tothe right. The lever 18 has also been rotated to some extent so as to beadapted to the inclination of the trigger guard. The lever 18 has movedthe spring set 20 towards the pressure plate 22, but without compressingthe spring set.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 the clamping arm 15 has been rotatedfurther in the direction of the arrow A. The rod 24 has been rotatedpast a dead center and has been displaced somewhat to the left in FIG.4. The rod forms together with the clamping arm a link, which in FIG. 4has reached a stable locked position. In this position the rod also hasmoved the lever 18 so far against the pressure plate that the spring sethas been compressed. As a result a spring force against the pressureplate has been built up. The spring force will insure that the adapteris hold firmly against the section of the gun located between pressureplate 22 and the counter stay 17, which in the shown embodiment is thetrigger guard 12. The compression of the spring set also results in asection of the bar 21 being visible outside the lever 18.

FIG. 5 shows an adapter 10 with a lamp 27 in a functional position on agun 13. Some sections of the clamping mechanism is covered under a sidepanel 28. The clamping mechanism can be locked in the shown position bymeans of a lock 29. The lock 29 snaps into a locked positionautomatically when the lamp 27 is rotated upwards and has to be actuatedmanually to allow the lamp 27 to be rotated downwards in the directionof the arrow C. The lock will ensure that the lamp is not lowered andthe adapter released due to strong movement, such as the recoil when thegun is fired.

In the embodiment in accordance with the invention shown in FIG. 5 theaccessory is a lamp 27. The lamp is a conventional lamp with a switchprovided in a rear section. In this application the complete rearsection is replaced by a section of the adapter. Electrical wirescovered behind the side panel 28 are connected to accumulators in thelamp, or to another type of power source. The wires extend to a switchmounted on the adapter, the switch being operated by a operating means30, so as to allow a user to switch on and off the lamp with a finger.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 the adapter 10 is provided also with asupport 32 (cf. also FIG. 7). The support 32 is used to protect thetrigger guard of the gun, which can be exposed to a substantial load ifthe lamp or adapter 10 is exposed to lateral forces. In the embodimentshown the support is snapped into a groove 33 in a front section of theadapter 10.

FIG. 7 more clearly shows the support 32 and it is obvious that thesupport comprises a U-formed upper part 34 and two from the upper part34 in parallel and spaced apart extending supporting arms 35. TheU-formed upper part 34 is adapted to a lower part of the gun below thebarrel and will clutch this part of the gun when the adapter is turnedin position. The supporting arms 35 are pushed into the grooves 33 ofthe adapter 10 (cf. FIG. 6) and are locked by snapping projections 36 onthe inside of the supporting arms in corresponding holes (not shown) inthe grooves of the adapter 10.

FIG. 8 shows one embodiment of a switch 37 that can be used forswitching on and switching off the accessory that is connected to theadapter. The switch 37 comprises operating means 30 in the form of anelongated shaft 38 extending through an upper section of a case 39. Theshaft 38 is connected in a first end to a on button 40 and to a secondend to an off button 41. The on button can readily switch place with theoff button 41, so as to better fit left handed users.

The shaft 38 supports centrally a curved piece 42 having three connectedcurved sections. Two outer curved sections of the same depth connects toan intermediate central curved section 43 having a somewhat larger depththan the outer sections. Two pointed tips separate the curved sectionsfrom each other. Centrally in the case 39 and below the shaft 38 thereis provided a ball 45 biased by a spring 44. The ball 45 can run in thecurved sections and as a result of the spring force a larger resistancehas to be overcome to move the curved piece 42 past the pointed tips.

The shaft 38 also supports centrally a permanent magnet 46, which willbe moved together with the curved piece 42. Centrally in the case 39there is provided a magnetically actuated means in the form of a reed 47that is arranged in a hollow space 48. The reed 47 will brake a circuitbetween an input conductor 49 and an output conductor 50 at someinfluence of a magnetic field. The input conductor 49 and the outputconductor 50 are parts of an electric circuit that also comprises apower source (for instance a battery, not shown) and an electricallypowered accessory (for instance a lamp 27).

When the curved piece 42 is in a central position as shown in FIG. 8with the ball 45 pressed into the central curved section 43 thepermanent magnet 46 will actuate on the reed 42 to open the electricalcircuit. Thus, in this position a lamp included in the electric circuitis turned off and this position forms a first resting position. Thepressure of the spring 44 will press the ball 45 up in to the bottom ofthe central curved section 43 and will ensure that the shaft 38 and thepermanent magnet 46 do not move without an active control.

By supplying a force and moving the shaft 38 to the right or to the leftin FIG. 8 against the resistance produced by the movement of the ball 45in the central curved section 43 the shaft 38 and the permanent magnet46 will be displaced. As a result the reed 47 will be affected by achanged magnetic field from the permanent magnet 46 to such an extentthat the open position is left. As a result the tongues of the reed 47will be affected by magnetic fields of different strengths which meansthat they will be closed to form electric contact and to close theelectric circuit and make the lamp glow. If the movement of the shaft 38is limited and the ball 45 never leaves the central curved section 43the shaft will spring back, when the applied force stops to exist Theresult will be a flashing function.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 the shaft 38 on one side isprovided with a sleeve 51 on the inside of the off button 41. The sleevewill prevent a movement of the shaft 38 to the left in the figures to aturned on position, because the sleeve engages the case 39 and thus willnot allow a further movement to the left. Thus, the sleeve will ensurethat the user who has not turned on the light by mistake will not movethe shaft 38 past the central position in which the lamp is turned offto a second turned on position. The sleeve can be moved to the oppositeside of the shaft resulting in a reverse function with relation to thedirection in which the shaft is moved for turning on and turning off,respectively.

In the position shown in FIG. 9 the shaft 38 has been moved by a forceon the on button 40 so far to the right that the ball has passed the tipseparating the central curved section 43 from the second curved sectionbeside said central section and instead has entered this second curvedsection. In this position the permanent magnet will affect the reed 47to make it close the electrical circuit. By pressing the ball into thecurved section the shaft will remain in this second resting positionuntil a force acts on the off button 41 to the left in FIG. 9. Asdescribed above the movement to the left will end when the shaft 51engages the case 39.

As an alternative to the shown embodiment the reed can be connected tothe shaft 38, thus being moveable in relation to the permanent magnet.The relative movement between the magnetically controlled means and themagnet that is required to close and open the electrical circuit with alamp or another accessory can be provided by the moving shaft also inthis embodiment.

1. A gun accessory mounting device, characterized in that the accessoryis connected to an adapter, that said adapter is provided with agripping means, and that said gripping means comprises a spring biasedclamping mechanism and a counter stay cooperating with said clampingmechanism, wherein a distance between a pressure plate and a lever ofthe spring biased clamping mechanism is reduced when the accessory ispivoted from a first position to a second position; and wherein saidcounter stay comprises a shackle handle adapted to a trigger guard ofthe gun.
 2. Mounting device, characterized in accordance with claim 1,wherein said adapter is provided with retaining means for the accessory,said retaining means being pivotably connected to said clampingmechanism for clamping said clamping mechanism when said accessory ispivoted.
 3. Mounting device in accordance with claim 1, wherein saidclamping mechanism comprises the lever, a rod connected to said lever, apivoted clamping arm connected to said rod and the pressure plate springbiased against said lever, and wherein said rod is biasing said pressureplate when the clamping arm is rotated.
 4. Mounting device in accordancewith claim 3, wherein a spring is provided between the lever and thepressure plate for biasing said pressure plate when the clamping arm isstretched.
 5. Mounting device in accordance with claim 3, wherein saidrod is movable between a first released position and a second lockedposition in which the rod is locked by a spring biasing effect. 6.Mounting device in accordance with claim 3, wherein a manuallycontrolled locking device is provided on said adapter and said rod ismovable between a first released position and a second locked positionin which the rod is locked by the locking device.
 7. An accessory formounting on a gun, characterized in that the accessory comprises a lamprigidly connected to an adapter, that the adapter is provided withgripping means, that said gripping means comprises a spring biasedclamping mechanism and a counter stay cooperating with said clampingmechanism, wherein a distance between a pressure plate and a lever ofthe spring biased clamping mechanism is reduced when the accessory isrotated from a first position to a second position, and that saidadapter is provided with a switch for turning said lamp on and off. 8.An accessory in accordance with claim 7, wherein said clamping mechanismcomprises the lever, a rod connected to said lever, a pivoted clampingarm connected to said rod and the pressure plate spring biased againstsaid lever, and wherein said rod presents a load on the pressure platewhen the clamping arm is rotated.
 9. An accessory in accordance withclaim 8, wherein a manually controlled locking device is provided onsaid adapter, and said rod being movable between a first releasedposition and a second locked position in which the rod is locked by thelocking device.
 10. An accessory in accordance with claim 7, whereinsaid switch comprises a magnetically controlled switching element and amagnet that can be moved in relation to the switching element.
 11. Anaccessory in accordance with claim 10, wherein said magnet is rigidlyconnected to a sliding and spring bias shaft.
 12. An accessory inaccordance with claim 11, wherein said spring bias shaft is displaceablebetween a first resting position, in which said switching element opensa circuit, and a second resting position, in which said switchingelement closes a circuit.
 13. An accessory in accordance with claim 12,wherein said spring biased shaft is resiliently displaceable betweensaid first resting position and an instable position in which saidswitching element closes a circuit.